I've been looking into buying an electric violin. I've found four that I like. Three of the four didn't have any customer reviews so I was wondering if anyone that owns these other three could tell me what they think of their physical, and sound qualities. Their Ease of play, and if they sound the same with headphones on VS plugged into an amp (I read about some sounding flat plugged into an amp).
the violins you mentioned and nearly all other brands of that price segment are equipped with a cheap korean piezo-transducer under the bridge. sounds not really fine. for a start that may be ok, if the instrument is it worth being upgraded with a better pickup later.
the Shar plug'n'play has the above mentioned transducer. it has ribs with a rim so you can fit a normal shoulderrest of your choice (not often the case with e-violins). on the belly side there is a plastic plate with jacks and pots mounted. underneath inside the violin there is a 9V battery for the headphones amp and the active electronics.
if you wanted to modify such an instrument you would have to replace the plastic plate and all the electric guts of the instrument. in fiddleforum last year or so somebody complained about poor quality.
often cheap e-violins have a roughly worked-out neck and a bad fingerboard (washboard-like).
It is much easier to electrify an acoustic instrument. Ask your luthier for a pricy instrument you can try. if you feel fine playing, choose a fine piezo bridge (for ex. Ashworth, Barcus-Berry or Headway) or an electromagnetic pickup like the REBO. please have a look: http://www.uli-boesking.de/rebo/e_start.htm
Don't take my word for it, as I am new to the violin, but I have been reading violin price and quality reviews for weeks.
You can also do this if you want!
Out of all of the violins that I have been looking at for under $700.00, time and time again, I have read that the Barcus Berry BAR-AE is the one.
It comes in several cool colors. It is an Acoustic and Electric, unlike the solid body Fender!
The fiddle players for Rascal Flatts, Gretchen Wilson, Tim McGraw, Clay Walker Band, Bob Seger, Louise Mandrell, Dave Matthews, etc plays the Barcus Berry BAR-AE. You can buy one for $394.00. It comes with a state of the art pickup, case, and bow.( Shipping Included in price )
After driving myself nuts for days, and reading review after review. This is the one that I ordered last week from Ebay. It should be here in a few days.
They must be pretty good if a bunch of "A" List Road Musicians are using them now! I will let you know what I think of it, when mine gets here! I bought the blue one. I think it looks pretty cool!
The Barcus-Berries are all right. The basic fiddle is quite "rough". The piezo bridge is of good quality. I bought a red one in 1984. http://www.uli-boesking.de/inst_gal/Seiten/rvln1_gr.htm
Good sound, strong output. I played hundreds of concerts and studio jobs with it. You'll have to cut / adapt the bridge the way you like it. I hope they deliver the instrument with an uncut bridge like mine. On the fotos the fiddle is equipped additionally with a magnetic Rebo pickup I like better than the piezos.
Today I would prefer to buy a 500 $ nice acoustic and electrify it.
searching...
